Car-coupling



(No Model.)

T. J. 1 100030 80 A. J. ISAACKS. GAR COUPLING.

No. 400,800. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

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114: um bums cti, mom-ma. \vuumnran n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

THOMAS JEFFERSON I-IODGES AND ANDREXV JACKSON ISAAOKS, OF ASHVILLE,ALABAMA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,800, dated November4, 189 0.

Application filed June 26, 1890- Serial No. 356,834. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS JEFFERsoN HODGES and ANDREW J AOKSONISAACKS, citizens of the United States, residing at Ashville, in thecounty of St. Clair and State of Alabama, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Automatic Oar-Couplers; and we do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvent-ion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates, generally, to carcouplings, and particularly tothat class of couplings in which a link and pin are employed; and it hasfor its object, first, to provide a coupler of the kind named, which maybe operated from the side of the car; second, to provide a coupler whichmay be instantly adjusted to accommodate cars of diiferent heights;third, to provide an improved link with spring-jaws adapted to be openedby the pin and to close automatically; fourth, to provide an improveddraw-head, and, fifth, to provide simple and durable means for adjusting the link and holding it securely in its adjusted position; andit consists in the parts and combinations of parts hereinafter describedand claimed.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved coupling in position toform the coupling; Fig. 2, a longitudinal horizontal section through thelink-frame and draw-head with i one of the plates of the frame removed,and

Fig. 3 a detail perspective View showing the ends of the links.

Similarletters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents the end beam of a car, and B a block secured at the centerof the same, immediately beneath which the draw-head C is secured in theusual or any desired manner. The draw-head, as clearly shown in Fig. 2,is formed with a throat to, of substantially the same diameterthroughout, and does not contract toward its rear end, as is customary,but retains a uniform size from the mouth of the draw-head to its rearend, and is formed with a perforation b intersecting the throat of thedraw-head to receive the pin 0. The links are formed of two levers D,having wedgeshaped heads d at one end, the rear portions of which formhooks e, and said hooks being reduced, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, so asto overlap each other when in position. The levers D are formed at theiropposite ends with the circular offset f, which is perforated at g.

E represents square or rectangular plates, between which the rear endsof the levers D work, said levers being pivotally secured between theplates in pairs at each end bythe bolt or rivets h, which serve to holdthe plates together. The levers are arranged with their circular offsetsadjacent to each other and with their hook ends projecting from betweenthe ends of the plates a suitable distance to permit of the leversentering the mouth of the draw-head on the adjacent car, the throat ofsaid draw-head being formed of a uniform size throughout, in order toreceive said levers.

F represents a spring having a triple curve resembling the numeral 3,one of which is inserted from each side between the plates at abouttheir center, and which are held in place by screw-bolts m passingthrough per forations in the plates at each side between the adjacentends of the respective pairs of levers. The outer curves of the springsembrace the circular offsets of the levers and tend to force the headsof said levers together, and the central curve or bend in the springsembrace the bolts m, said bolts being held in place by nuts. The boltsor also serve to fasten a yoke n in place on the upper plate, to which ahook G, secured to or formed on one end of a chain H, may be caught,said chain passing back to and over a pulley I, journaled in the frontof block B, and about a pulley J, mounted horizontally on top of saidblock, and from thence over a pulley K, having a guard L mounted on theend beam of the car, and is secured to a lever M, having one endpivot-ed to said end beam and its other end extending past an uprightratchet-bar N, which is bolted to the end beam.

The lever M is adapted to catch against the teeth of the ratchet-bar,and by raising or lowering the same the link-frame is raised or lowered,as desired, by the chain H to accommodate cars of different heights, andheld in its adjusted position by lever M being caught in the teeth ofthe ratchet-bar.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a car-coupling, ofthe draw-head, the platesbolted together, the levers formed with wedge-shaped ends pivotallysecured between said plates and projecting from the ends thereof, andthe springs arranged between the plates and adapted to force the outerends of said levers toward,

each other, substantially as described.

2. A link-frame for a car-coupling, consisting of the plates boltedtogether, the levers having perforated circular oflfsets at one end andwedge-shaped heads forminghooks piv otally mounted on the bolts whichsecure said plates together, and the curved springs partly encirclingsaid ofl sets and adapted to force'the outer or free ends of said leverstogether, substantially as described,

3; A link-frame for a carcoupling,consisting of the plates boltedtogether, levers hav ing perforated circular ends and wedge: shapedheads forming hooks, said circular ends'being pivotally mounted on thebolts which secure the plates together, a yoke se cured to the topplate, screw-bolts passing through said plates between the rear ends ofthe levers, and curved springs held between said plates by saidscrew-bolts and adapted to force the outer ends of said levers together,substantially as described.

4. A link-frame for a car-coupling, consisting of rectangular plates,levers having perforated circular oifsets at one end pivotally securedin pairs between said plates and projecting from each end thereof andhaving Wedge-shaped outer ends forming hooks, and said hooks beingreduced, springs curved to form a figure 3, secured between said platesand between the ends of said levers, and a yoke secured to the upper ofsaid plates, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a draw-bar, of a link-frame, levers pivotallysecured'to said frame at each end in pairs and having hooks formed ontheir outer ends, a yoke secured

